dropping an Oracle database

I am running Version 6.0.33.2.1 on a Sun/4 (Unix). This is a research system. Databases are created for certain research purposes which they sooner or later outlive. Is there a way to cleanly drop a database from within Oracle without creating a new one with the same name? Or does one just brutally drop all and any operating system files associated with the defunct DB?

Thanks in advance.

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Gary Hall                  | Voice (604) 291-3208 | INTERNET: hall_at_cs.sfu.ca
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